RailWorks Secured $24.5M Los Angeles Metro Contracts
The transit projects will require complex infrastructure upgrades to support higher frequency service in Los Angeles.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Construction
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RailWorks has been awarded two contracts by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority to improve regional rail infrastructure. These projects include construction of new interlockings and traction power substations to support expanded service.
Why it matters
The upgrades are designed to enhance electrical capacity and operational efficiency ahead of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games. Increased frequency and passenger capacity are key drivers for the investment in the regional transit network.
RailWorks secured a $24.5 million contract for the K Line, which involves building two traction power substations to support 3-car train operations at 5-minute headways. The separate A&E Line project includes constructing 4 new interlockings alongside targeted siding improvements.
The players
RailWorks
A rail infrastructure construction firm specializing in design, build, and maintenance services for transit systems.
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
The public agency responsible for planning, operating, and maintaining the transit network serving Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
The municipal utility providing essential power and water services required for infrastructure integration.
Southern California Edison
A major electric utility provider responsible for the regional power grid infrastructure.
The details
The A&E Line Interlock Project utilizes a Construction Manager/General Contractor delivery model, focusing on pre-construction planning and risk management. The K Line contract follows a design-build model, requiring RailWorks to handle end-to-end delivery including installation, testing, and commissioning in coordination with utility providers.
Timeline
October 13, 2026: RailWorks announced the delivery model for the A&E project.
2028: Construction is expected to begin on the K Line project.
2028: The Olympic and Paralympic games occur.
mid-2029: Substantial completion is expected for the K Line project.
Market Landscape
These infrastructure contracts follow a pattern set by the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic games, which serve as an industry-wide catalyst for transit capacity upgrades. The scope of these projects mirrors broader trends in municipal transit agencies utilizing design-build models for high-frequency rail.
Operators in the construction and transit sectors should monitor the design-build and CM/GC delivery models as benchmarks for how large municipal agencies manage project risk. Future bidding opportunities will likely hinge on the ability to coordinate complex electrical utility interfaces at scale.
The takeaway
Large-scale transit infrastructure projects are increasingly prioritizing early utility coordination to meet rigid, event-driven completion deadlines. Track upcoming procurement notices for similar traction power and interlocking work as the regional transit agency accelerates capital improvements.
Further reading
For more on local infrastructure developments, visit Construction.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Railway Track and Structures.
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